Biocatalytic asymmetric hydrogen transfer

Abstract

Celling chemistry: Ketones (secondary alcohols) can be biocatalytically reduced (oxidized) at a substrate concentration of up to 1.8 mol L-1 in an asymmetric fashion by employing a novel secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 (see scheme). Furthermore, the enzyme is exceptionally stable at high cosubstrate concentrations, that is, 2-propanol (50% v/v) for reduction and acetone (20% v/v) for oxidation, respectively.